Life-preserver.



S. F. SHAFER.

MFE PRESlERVER. APPUCATION HLED APR. 25, 1915.

Eatented Mar. 13, EN?.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI l.

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Attorneys Witnesses S. F. SHAFER.

LIFE PRESERVER.

APPLlcATloN FILED APR. 25. 1916.

1,218,904. Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

Attorneys S. F SHAFER.

LIFE PRESERVER..

APPLICATloN man 111111.25. 1916.

1,231 8,9m@ Pmnd Maf. 13, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Witnesses Attorneys SAMUEL a. snaren, or Tacoma, WASHINGTON.

LIFE-Paasaavaa.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Marais, i917.

i Application filed April 25, 1916i. Serial No. 93,515.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, SAMUEL F. SHAFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of lVash'ington, have invented a new and useful Life-Preserver, of which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is adapted to be employed for keeping persons dry and warm in the water, the device being adapted for use upon occasion of maritime disaster, as a diving dressland for purposes of recreation in the water, when the water is cold.

By way of explanation it may be stated that many structures of the general type herein disclosed have proved unsatisfactory by reason of the fact that air chambers or other means for keeping the person afloat are embodied in the dress or suit whereby the wearer is kept dry. The air chambers in devices of this kind, if inflated before an accident occurs, render the structure too bulky, and if the air chambers are not infiated before the accident occurs, then, not infrequently, they are never inliated at all, with obviously undesirable results.

In view of the foregoing, the present application discloses, in combination with a suit or dress which will keep the wearer warm and dry, a life preserver or floating device which may be kept inflated at all times, the life preserver being separate from the dress or suit, so as to add no bulkiness to the suit until the time for the application of the life preserver has arrived.

In this application there is disclosed adevice of the type above mentioned to which the wearer may find access readilyit being possible to close up the garment, so that the body of the wearer will be protected adequately against cold and dampness.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for maintaining a: Water tight closure between the garment and the face of the wearer.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a garment of the class described, a novel form of sanitary or drainage system.

The suit forming the subject matter of this application includes novel means whereby signals, food and other supplies may be kept at hand, in reach of the person wear1ng the suit forming the subject matter of this application.

'life It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

lV ith the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that 'A changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed, Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

ln the accompanying drawing Figure l shows the invention in side elevation, the front iiap being thrown back;

Fig. 2 shows the invention in front elevation, closed upon the body of the wearer;

Fig. 3 is a section taken approximately on the line 3-3 lof Fig. l;

Fig. et is a section of the cap and clamping ring shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective wherein the garment is shown as it will appear when in con- -dition to'receive the wearer;

6 is a perspective of theface frame;

Fig. 7 is a section taken approximately on line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a cross section on the line 8 8. of Fi 5;

ig. 9 is a front elevation wherein the preserver has been applied; ig. l0 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmental vertical section illustra-ting the drainage system.

The garment forming the subject matter of this application is fashioned from waterproof material and includes a body l, a helmet 2, arms 3, legs 4 and feet 5. rlhe body l is severed along the front to form a fiap 6 which may be held in place by buttons 7 or in any other suitable manner.

The invention further includes a front denoted generally by the numeral 8 and made of water-proof material which is somewhat lighter and more'iiexible than the material out of which the body 1 is fashioned. The front 8 is securely attached to the Abody 1 and tothe helmet 2 to prevent a leakageof water between these parts, the front 8 being upwardly extended to form a mask 9 which coperates with the helmet 2. In the mask 9 there is fashioned an opening 10 exposing the eyes, nose and mouth of the wearer.

Formed in the mask 9 about the opening 10 are perforations 11. Attached to the under face of the mask 9 about the opening 10 and extended across the perforations 11 is a strip of adhesive material denoted by the numeral. 12. The invention contemplates the use of a face frame 11 of slightly largerl diameter than the opening 10 and provided on its inner face with a pneumatic backing 15, adapted to cover the perforations 11. Assembled with the sides of the frame 11 are crotch straps 16, the rear ends of which are formed integrally with or connected 'to a. back band 17, the crotch straps 16 and the back band 17 being elastic.

The front 8 includes a tubular extension 18, the mouth of which is circuinscribed by a bead 19 through which slides a draw string 20. By tightening up the draw string 20, the extension 18 may be disposed 1n compact form as shown at 21 in Fig. 3, a collapsible two-part cap 22 being placed over the compacted end of the extension 18, and a divided resilient ring 23 being placed about the cap. The ring 23 is equipped with outstanding ears 24 adapted to be drawn together by a clamp screw 25 or otherwise. The invention may comprise shoes 26 having side straps 27 adapted to engage securing devices 28 on the legs 4, to hold the shoes in place. The hands of the wearer may be incased in gloves 29. The body portion 1 of the garment is equipped with a pocket 30 adapted to hold the gloves 29, and the body portion of the garment may carry, further, a pocket 31, adapted to hold a bottle 32, the utility of which will be pointed out hereinafter. Mounted in one shoulder of the garment, or elsewhere, is an outlet valve 33. @ne shoulder of the garment may carry an eye 34 or like device, to which is attached a flexible element 35 carrying a bag 36 closed by a cap 37, the construction of the Cap and the mouth of the bag being similar to the construction indicated at 20 in Fig. 5 and at 21-22232425 in Fig. 3.

The invention comprises a life preserver 100 preferably in the form of a vest and provided with circumscribing air chambers 102, there being supplemental air chambers 103 located above and below the air chambers 102. The front portions of the vest are united about the body of the wearer by any suitable means indicated at 101. Secured to the back portion of the life preserver is an upstanding pillow 106 which extends upwardly well onto the back of the head of the wearer. The pillow 106 and the air chambers 102 and 103 are kept inflated at all times and consequently there is no danger of the wearer entering the water with the air chambers in a deated condition. 71`he pillow 106 serves to keep the wearer of the suit upright in the water and, should the wearer become unconscious, his head will miseria from dropping backwardly under water. Further, the pillow 106 acts as a head rest or support, relieving the wearer and preventing fatigue.

The invention further includes a sanitary drainage system which will now be described.

Attached to the back portion of the body 1 of the suit is a forwardly projecting basin 108 preferably made of semi-stili rubber, the basin being narrow enough to extend be tween the legs of the wearer. The basin 108 is adapted to receive urine if the wearer is a female. The numeral 109 includes a flexible tank secured as shown at 110 in one leg of the suit. A flexible pipe 111 leads from the basin 108 to the tank 109. Leading from the tank 109 and discharging outside of the suit is a drain pipe 112 provided with a pump 11e located outside of the suit and accessible to the wearer, the pump being be prevented employed to draw away the contents of the tank 109. If the wearer is a male, it will be found convenient to use a funnel 115 formed at the upper end of a pipe 116 leading to the tank 109.

In practical operation, presupposing that the garment is disposed as shown in Fig. 5, the wearer inserts his legs and body into the garment, through the extension 18, the head of the wearer subsequently being inserted into the helmet 2. The mask 9 is pressed lirmly against the face, so that the adhesive strip 12 which circumscribes the opening 10 will adhere securely to the face of the wearer and prevent the entrance of water. The face ring 11 is then mounted in place, the elastic back band 17 being passed around the back of the head of the wearer thus to hold the face ring securely inv place. The elastic backing 15 of the face ring serves to press the adhesive strip 12 securely against the face of the wearer and also covers the perforations 11, so that water cannot find its way therein, and loosen the strip 12. However, by removing the face ring 14, the

perforations 11 are uncovered. Thereupon the bottle 32 in the pocket 31 may be brought into use, the bottle containing a solvent of some suitable sort which, being poured through the perforations 11 willi loosen the hold of the adhesive strip 12 on the face of the wearer.

After the operator is incased in the garment as above described, the draw strings 20 are pulled upon thus to close the mouth of the extension 18, the cap 22 is mounted in place and clamped by means of the ring 23, and the iap 6 is buttoned in the closed position of Fig. 2 to house the folded or collapsed extension 18.

The bag 36 is adapted to contain signals which theA wearer may require and, ordinarily, floats behind the wearer in the water. 1n order to prevent an undesirable air preslmask having an opening;

sure Within the garment which might perhaps loosen the adhesive strip l2, and in any event prove uncomfortable to the wearer, the

'valve 33 may be opened, thereby letting the air out of the garment and, if considered expedient, an exhaust pump may be assembled with the valve 33.

The device forming' the subject matter of this application is absolutely water-tight and will maintain the body of the wearer in a'warm and dry condition for a practically indefinite period of time, it being a matter of common knowledge that, in case of ship wreck the resulting mortality not infrequently occurs in an equal degree from exposure and from drowning.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is f y 1. Ina garment of the class described, a body and a helmet, the helmet including a a ring exerting a pressure on the outer surface of the mask about the opening; and a helmet-engaging band, the forward ends of which are assembled With the ring.

2. In a garment of the class described, a body provided with a helmet including a mask having an opening; adhesive material assembled with the inner surface of the mask about the opening; and pressure exerting means coperating with the mask and With the adhesive material.

3. In a garment of the class described, a body and a helmet, the helmet including a mask having an opening; adhesive material applied to the inner surface of the mask about the opening; a ring exerting a pressure on the outer surface of the mask about the opening; and a resilient, helmet engaging band, the forward ends of which are assembled with the ring.

4. In a garment of the class described, a body and a helmet, the helmet including a mask having an opening, the mask being provided with perforations located about the opening; adhesive material applied to the inner face of the mask about the opening and adjacent the perforations, the perforations giving access to the adhesive material, whereby the latter may be loosened; a ring bearing against the mask about the opening and covering the perforations; and a helmet engaging means for holding the ring in place.

In a device of the class described, a bifurcated garment provided adjacent its crotch with a forwardly extended basin and provided adjacent its crotch with a funnel, the basin and the funnel being adapted to receive natural products voided respectively by female and male wearers; a tank in one leg of the garment; conduits leading to the tank from the basin and from the funnel; an outlet pipe leading from the tank and -discharging outside of the garment; and a pump on the exposed end of the outlet pipe.

6. In a garment of the class described, a body and a helmet, the helmetincluding a mask having an opening; adhesive material assembled with the inner surface of the mask about the opening; and a relief valve for the garment, adapted to secure a diminution of pressure within the garment, and to prevent the detachment of the adhesive material from theface of the wearer.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing asl my own, I have hereto ahiXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL F. SHAFER. 

